drainyoo

I'm looking to convert an 80s frame with a 128mm rear spacing to a single speed and I want to use Shimano Track hubs. I can fill the gaps with spacers, but I want to know if the axle is long enough to tighten the nut onto it. Anyone have any idea if I'd have any problems with this setup? Thanks in advance.

63_dorinte

The Shimano hubs that I have (7710) have short axles, they cannot be spaced beyond 120mm. Same for the newer Campy Record. I would guess same for all track racing specific hubs that use nuts. Hubs for street use usually have longer axles so they can be spaced out.

- dorinte

63_dorinte

Here is a pic of a DA 7710 hub at 120mm spacing:



Note that there are no threads exposed beyond the axle nut.

- dorinte

FBinNY 

Competition rules, as a safety measure, dictate that the axles cannot extend beyond the face of the track nuts, so good quality track axles are measured to be just long enough and no more. Lower end hubs made for today's Fixie crowd may offer more latitude, but you'd have to check each.

However, all is not lost, the thread is standard, and longer axles are available, so it's a simple of getting a new axle along with the spacers. If you measure carefully you can trim the axle to the exact length to end sub flush in your mounting bolts.

operator

Wtf?

There's no such thing as 'track racing specific hubs'. A track hub is a track hub. Both of those hubs axles can be replaced with longer versions to space out to im guessing is actally 126. And not 128.

Dimension track hubs, formula track hubs. All are compatiblie with 120mm+ spacing.

Bianchigirll 

My first question was do track axles fit in road frame dropouts? I thought they were a tad bigger in diameter

drainyoo

Thanks folks. I appreciate all the help. I would assume that the Shimano axles are good quality, so is there a certain replacement axles that would be of similar quality?

FBinNY 

Welcome back Operator, I've missed your posts.

There absolutely are track racing specific hubs, namely those built specifically for competition and according to UCI rules.

Then there are Fixed Gear hubs, that are similar in most or all respects, but not necessarily in conformance to the UCI rules. At one time all track hubs were track hubs, but not today, where Fixie boom has spawned all sorts of variations of what I'd call Track Style hubs.

An analogy can be drawn to Kosher deli/restaurants. Kosher food is that prepared in strict accordance to various rules, and there are a number of kosher delis in New York. But there is a much larger number of delis with similar menus, but not, in fact, kosher, some even describing themselves as kosher style.

FBinNY 

I don't know either way whether Shimano offers a longer track axle, but others, including Wheels mfg. in Boulder CO, make quality longer replacements.

reddog3

You could probably set the spacing and align the DO's as easily as obtaining and changing the axles. That would be my choice but maybe not yours- who knows.

mrrabbit 

FBinNY:

Do you have the UCI Chapter and Section number that cover specific track hub dimension beyond the spacing?

Everywhere I look, the restrictions I see are in relation to mass start road wheels - most restrictions I find for track wheels are related to quick releases and disc front wheels and wheel size mismatch...

=8-)

FBinNY 

The last time I looked at this issue, was when I sponsored track riders some 30+ years ago. Back then commissars at T-town would disqualify any rider (before the race) with protruding axles. It was offered as a safety rule (predated hard shell helmets) but was also to protect the track's surface from gouging when crashed bikes slid down the banks.

At the time, QR hubs were likewise banned.

mrrabbit 

Sounds to me then that it's not a UCI rule - but rather a local facility rule.

Long as the local controlling group publishes in advance and at registration - perfectly valid. Very common in local ASA softball tournament and leaques. Ran 'em for 13 years - mostly A, B and C class Men's fast pitch. Most common local rule changes and addendums to ASA rules were:

1. Out-of-play line. (2 of my 3 parks were very tiny and compact.)
2. Uniforms. They're expensive - folks playing locally are playing for fun and don't need the expense.
3. First base "run-by" safety rule and safety bag.

=8-)

Jeff Wills

OK... we're drifting off course here (but that's normal). As FB pointed out above, longer solid axles are available from Wheels Mfg. and Shimano's older solid axles will work, too. Shimano's thread for rear axles (solid and QR) is 10 x 1mm.